Computer docking station

ABSTRACT

A computer docking station for supporting a portable computer includes a body with a cradle portion configured to support a portion of the portable computer, and an arm portion spaced from the cradle portion. A latching member is coupled with the arm portion and movable between a first position relative to the arm portion, in which the portable computer can be removed from the docking station, and a second position relative to the arm portion, in which the portable computer cannot be removed from the docking station. The computer moves the latching member from the second position to the first position, in a direction toward the cradle portion, as the computer is inserted into the docking station and the latching member automatically moves from the first position to the second position, in a direction away from the cradle portion, as the computer is fully inserted into the docking station.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/471,820 filed Mar. 28, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/570,425 filed Aug. 9, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No.9,612,616, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/025,430 filed Feb. 11, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,315,048, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/570,744 filed Sep.30, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,911,779. The entire content of these priorapplications is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to computer docking stations.

Portable, tablet-style computers are known for use in various industries(e.g. the medical industry). Such tablet-style computers commonlyinclude an integral carrying handle formed at least in part by anaperture in the body of the computer.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention provides a computer docking station forsupporting a portable computer. The docking station includes a bodyhaving a cradle portion configured to support a first portion of theportable computer. A recess is formed in the body adjacent a secondopposite end of the body. A latching member is configured to move in therecess and is coupled with the body to engage a second portion of theportable computer. The latching member is movable in a directionparallel to a plane between a first position, in which the portablecomputer can be removed from the docking station, and a second position,in which the portable computer cannot be removed from the dockingstation when the portable computer is fully inserted into the dockingstation. When the portable computer is inserted into the docking stationthe portable computer moves the latching member from the second positionto the first position and the latching member automatically moves fromthe first position to the second position as the portable computer movespast and clears the latching member as the portable computer is fullyinserted into the docking station. The latching member is operable tocooperate with the cradle portion to removably hold the portablecomputer in the docking station. An activation member is accessible to auser and operatively associated with the latching member to manuallymove the latching member from the second position to the first position.When the activation member moves the latching member from the secondposition to the first position, the activation member moves in a firstdirection parallel to the plane toward the cradle portion.

In another aspect, the invention provides a computer docking station forsupporting a portable computer having a first side that defines a planeand includes a display. The docking station includes a body having acradle portion adjacent a first end of the body and configured tosupport a first portion of the portable computer. A latching member iscoupled with the body adjacent a second opposite end of the body. Thelatching member is positioned relative to the cradle portion such thatthe latching member is operable to cooperate with the cradle portion toremovably hold the portable computer in the docking station. Anactivation member is accessible to a user to manually move the latchingmember from a second position, in which the portable computer cannot beremoved from the docking station when the portable computer is fullyinserted into the docking station, to a first position, in which theportable computer can be removed from the docking station. A lockmechanism is operable to selectively lock the latching member in thesecond position when the portable computer is fully inserted into thedocking station. The latching member is movable relative to the body ina direction parallel to the plane between the first position and thesecond position. The portable computer moves the latching member fromthe second position to the first position as the portable computer isinserted into the docking station, and the latching member automaticallymoves from the first position to the second position as the portablecomputer moves past and clears the latching member as the portablecomputer is fully inserted into the docking station. The latching memberis positioned relative to the body so that when in the second position,at least a portion of the latching member is exposed to view when theportable computer is fully inserted into the docking station. Thelatching member and the activation member are operatively linked to acommon pivot point.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a computer docking stationfor supporting a portable computer having a first side that defines aplane and includes a display. The docking station includes a body havinga cradle portion adjacent a first end of the body and configured tosupport a first portion of the portable computer. A recess is formed inthe body adjacent a second opposite end of the body. A latching memberis coupled with the body adjacent the second end of the body andconfigured to engage a second portion of the portable computer. Thelatching member comprises a first portion to contact the portablecomputer as the portable computer is inserted into the docking stationand a second portion that is configured to move in the recess. Thelatching member is movable in a direction parallel to the plane betweena first position, in which the portable computer can be removed from thedocking station, and a second position, in which the portable computercannot be removed from the docking station when the portable computer isfully inserted into the docking station. The latching member is operableto cooperate with the cradle portion to removably hold the portablecomputer in the docking station. An activation member is accessible to auser to manually move the latching member from the second position tothe first position. A lock mechanism is operable to selectively lock thelatching member in the second position when the portable computer isfully inserted into the docking. The portable computer moves thelatching member from the second position to the first position as theportable computer is inserted into the docking station and the latchingmember automatically moves from the first position to the secondposition as the portable computer moves past and clears the latchingmember as the portable computer is fully inserted into the dockingstation. When the activation member moves the latching member from thesecond position to the first position the activation member moves in adirection parallel to the plane toward the cradle portion. The latchingmember is positioned relative to the body so that when in the secondposition, at least a portion of the latching member is exposed to viewwhen the portable computer is fully inserted into the docking station.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portable computer docked in acomputer docking station embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the computer docking station embodyingthe invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the computer docking station of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section view of the computer docking station taken alongline 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of the arm portion of the dockingstation of FIG. 2 shown with a latching member in a first position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial view of the arm portion of the dockingstation of FIG. 2 shown with the latching member in a second position.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing the latching assembly and lockmechanism.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the computer docking station of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways.

FIG. 1 illustrates a portable computer 10 docked in a docking station 14of the present invention. The illustrated portable computer 10 is atablet-style portable computer having an aperture 18 formed in and/orthrough the body 22 of the computer 10 to at least partially define acarrying handle 24 of the computer 10. One example of such a portabletablet-style computer 10 is the Panasonic Toughbook CF-H1 computer.

The docking station 14 is operable to support and electrically couple tothe computer 10 when the computer 10 is not being carried by hand. Thedocking station 14 can be mounted virtually anywhere the computer mightbe used, including in a room or in a vehicle. Additionally, the dockingstation 14 can be mounted on a movable cart, desk, or the like to renderthe computer 10 mobile even when docked in the docking station 14.Various mounting hardware (not shown) can be used to secure the dockingstation 14 in the appropriate manner to a support surface. Theillustrated docking station 14 is configured to have a shape that isform-fitting to the computer 10 such that very little of the dockingstation 14 can be seen when the computer 10 is docked with the dockingstation 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-8, the docking station 14 includes a body 28that is primarily plastic (e.g., polycarbonate resin), but in otherembodiments could be primarily metal or other suitable materials. Theillustrated docking station 14 also includes some nylon parts, steelbrackets, electrical components, and steel hardware. The body 28includes a cradle portion 32 configured to support a portion of thecomputer 10, and in the illustrated embodiment supports a bottom orlower portion of the computer. As used herein and in the appendedclaims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”,and other directional terms are not intended to require any particularorientation, but are instead used for purposes of description only. Thecradle portion 32 includes a base wall 36 sized and configured to engageand support the lower edge of the computer 10. As best shown in FIGS. 2and 8, the base wall 36 includes one or more breaks or apertures 40formed therein. The apertures 40 can provide access to the supportedlower edge of the computer 10 when the computer is supported in thedocking station 14. As shown in FIG. 8, one aperture 40 provides accessto a barcode scanning lens 42, but can also allow a user to makeelectrical connections to electrical ports, connectors, and the likefound in the lower edge of the computer 10. Furthermore, the apertures40 can additionally, or alternatively be operable to provide analignment feature for mating with alignment features on the lower edgeof the computer 10. Yet additionally, the apertures 40, by virtue of theremoved material, can provide some resiliency or flexibility to thecradle portion 32 to facilitate insertion and removal of the computer 10from the docking station 14. It is to be understood that the number,location, and configuration of the apertures 40 can vary as desired, andperhaps based on the particular computer 10 to be docked.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base wall 36 also supports aconnector 44 (see FIG. 2) sized and configured to electrically couplewith a mating docking connector (not shown) on the computer 10. Theelectrical coupling of computers and docking stations using connectors44 and the mating docking connectors on computers is well known, andwill not be described further. Grounding pins 48 also extend from thebase wall 36 on opposite sides of the connector 44 to ground thecomputer 10 when it is docked in the docking station 14.

The base wall 36 transitions into opposing, generally parallel sidewalls 52 that further define the cradle portion 32 and engageoppositely-facing edges of the computer 10. In the illustratedembodiment, the base wall 36 and each side wall 52, along with thetransitions therebetween are sized and configured to engage and supportlower edge corners of the computer 10.

The cradle portion 32 is also partly defined by a rear wall 56intersecting the base wall 36 to engage and support a lower rear surfaceof the computer 10 when it is positioned in the cradle portion 32. Theillustrated rear wall 56 includes one or more alignment projections 60sized, configured, and positioned to align with recesses (not shown) inthe rear surface of the computer 10. The alignment projections 60 helpto obtain an aligned, snug fit of the computer 10 within the cradleportion 32.

The cradle portion 32 further includes at least one flange extendingfrom the base wall 36 to engage and support a front surface of thecomputer 10 when it is positioned in the cradle portion 32, therebysecuring the lower portion of the computer 10 within the cradle portion32. The illustrated embodiment includes three flanges 64 a, b, and c.The flange 64 a extends from a central portion of the base wall 36 andhas a flange portion 68 that extends in a direction generally normal tothe base wall 36. One or more strengthening ribs 72 can be formed on anouter surface of the flange portion 68 to provide the desired strengthand rigidity to the flange 64 a. Flanges 64 b and 64 c extend fromopposite distal ends of the base wall 36 and are coupled with therespective side walls 52. As best shown in FIG. 4, each flange 64 b, 64c includes a first flange portion 76 that extends in a directiongenerally normal to the base wall 36, and a second flange portion 80that extends in a direction oblique to the base wall 36 to facilitateinsertion of the computer 10 into the cradle portion. FIG. 4 illustratesthe computer 10 in phantom lines angled relative to base wall 36 asdictated by the engagement of the front surface of the computer 10 withthe second flange portions 80. Therefore, the second flange portions 80act as a lead-in or guiding surface during insertion of the computer 10into the docking station 14. The cradle portion 32 acts as a pivot pointfor the computer 10 during the docking process.

A connection module 84 is coupled with the cradle portion 32. As bestshown in FIG. 8, the connection module 84 includes electricalconnections (e.g., a power connection 86, a network or phone connection88, standard pin connections 90 for monitors, printers, and the like,and USB ports 92). The various electrical connections are electricallycoupled to the computer through the connector 44, as is well known.

The body 28 of the docking station 14 further includes an arm portion 96sized and configured to be received in the aperture 18 in the computer10. In the illustrated embodiment, the arm portion 96 extends entirelythrough the aperture 18, however in other embodiments, the arm portion18 need not extend entirely through the aperture 18, but could insteadextend into the aperture 18 without extending all the way through andback out of the aperture 18.

A transition portion 100 of the body 28 extends between the arm portion96 and the cradle portion 32. In the illustrated embodiment, thetransition portion 100 has a front surface 104 that smoothly transitionsthe rear wall 56 of the cradle portion 32 into the arm portion 96without any seams, parting lines, or other discontinuities that mightcollect dirt or debris. The front surface 104 of the illustratedtransition portion 100 has a portion 108 that is generally co-planarwith the rear wall 56 of the cradle portion 32, and a portion 112 thatis curved or contoured to generally conform to and receive the rearsurface of the computer 10 (e.g., the rear surface itself or an integralhandle strap assembly extending from the rear surface).

The arm portion 96 includes a bottom surface 116, which can include oneor more ribs 120 extending to the front surface 104 of the transitionportion 100. The ribs 120 are engageable with the rear surface of thecomputer 10 (see FIG. 6) to help guide the arm portion 96 into theaperture 18 of the computer 10. The ribs 120 can also provide strengthand rigidity to the arm portion 96, which can resiliently deflectsomewhat relative to the transition portion 100 during insertion of thearm portion 96 into the aperture 18 of the computer 10. The bottomsurface 116, and the arm portion 96 in general, are oriented to begenerally parallel with the base wall 36 of the cradle portion 32. Inother words, the arm portion 96 extends from a remainder of the body 28in a direction generally parallel to the base wall 36, so as to bereceived in and extend through the aperture 18, which extends throughthe body 22 of the computer 10 in a direction generally normal to thefront surface of the computer 10.

The arm portion 96 also includes a top surface 124 spaced from andgenerally parallel to the bottom surface 116. The top surface 124 andbottom surface 116 are spaced apart by a distance slightly smaller thana height of the aperture 18. The illustrated top surface 124 includes arecess 126 sized and configured to receive the handle 24 of the computer10 when the computer 10 is docked in the docking station 14. Oppositeside surfaces 128 of the arm portion 96 extend between the top andbottom surfaces 124, 116.

A latching member 132 is coupled with the arm portion 96 and is movablebetween a first position relative to the arm portion 96, in which thearm portion 96 can be inserted into or removed from the aperture 18 (seeFIG. 5), and a second position relative to the arm portion 96, in whichthe arm portion 96 cannot be removed from the aperture 18 (see FIGS. 1-4and 6). In the illustrated embodiment, the latching member 132 isretracted relative to and into the arm portion 96 when in the firstposition, and is extended relative to and from the arm portion 96 whenin the second position. While the latching member 132 is illustrated asbeing positioned on the top surface 124 of the arm portion, the latchingmember 132 can alternatively be positioned on the bottom surface 116 oron the side surfaces 128 of the arm portion 96 to engage differentportions of the aperture 18.

Referring to FIG. 7, the latching member 132 is part of a latchingassembly 136 coupled with the arm portion 96. In the illustratedembodiment, the latching assembly 136 is sandwiched between a fronthousing portion 138 a and a rear housing portion 138 b that togetherdefine part of the docking station 14. A base 140 of the latchingassembly 136 is housed within the arm portion 96 and supports thelatching member 132 in a manner that permits the latching member 132 tomove between the first and second positions within an aperture 142formed in the top surface 124. Specifically, the latching member 132 ispivotally connected to the base 140 via a pin 144 received through atubular portion 148 of the latching member 132. The pin 144 is supportedat its ends by the base 140. A biasing member in the form of acompression spring 152 biases the latching member 132 relative to thebase 140 and the arm portion 96 to the second, or extended position.

A projection 156 extends from the latching member 132 through a slot 160in the base 140 and into a corresponding slot 164 in a front surface 168of the arm portion 96. An activation member 172 is coupled to theprojection 156 and is accessible to a user to manually move the latchingmember 132 to the first position. The illustrated activation member 172is a generally disk-shaped part that can be manually pressed in adirection downwardly and to the left (as indicated by the indicia arrow176) to move the latching member 132 from the second position to thefirst position, against the bias of the spring 152. In otherembodiments, the activation member 172 can simply be the end of theprojection 156. It is to be understood that the illustrated latchingassembly 136 is just one possible configuration that can be used withthe docking station 14. Other latching assemblies capable of providing alatching member movable between two positions (i.e., latched andunlatched) relative to the arm portion 96 can be substituted.

The illustrated latching assembly 136 further includes an optional lockmechanism 180 operable to selectively lock the latching member 132 inthe second, or extended position. When the computer 10 is docked in thedocking station 14 and the lock mechanism 180 locks the latching member132 in the extended position, the computer 10 cannot be removed from thedocking station 14 because the arm portion 96 cannot be removed fromwithin the aperture 18. The lock mechanism 180 is at least partiallyreceived in the arm portion 96 (via aperture 182 in the front surface168), and in the illustrated embodiment is operated with a key to rotatea cam 184. When the lock mechanism 180 is engaged (i.e., locked) to lockthe latching member 132 in the second position, the cam 184 prevents thelatching member 132 from moving to the first position, retracted withinthe arm portion 96. When the lock mechanism 180 is not engaged (i.e.,unlocked), the latching member 132 is free to retract into the base 140and into the arm portion 96. Other lock mechanisms can be substitutedfor the illustrated key-activated lock mechanism.

The latching member 132 is configured such that it can automaticallymove from the second, extended position, to the first, retractedposition as the arm portion 96 is being inserted into the aperture 18.The illustrated latching member 132 includes two oblique cam surfaces188, 192 that intersect to define a cam surface edge 196. The first camsurface 188 slopes upwardly and rearwardly relative to the front surface168 of the arm portion 96. The second cam surface 192 slopes upwardlyand left-to-right relative to the front surface 168 of the arm portion96. Therefore, the intersection of the two cam surfaces 188 and 192define the cam surface edge 196 that slopes upwardly, rearwardly, andleft-to-right relative to the front surface 168 of the arm portion 96.As the arm portion 96 is inserted into the aperture 18 of the computer10 during docking, the upper inner surface of the computer defining theaperture 18 engages the two cam surfaces 188, 192 and the cam surfaceedge 196 and automatically moves the latching member 132 from thesecond, extended position to the first, retracted position as the armportion 96 is inserted into the aperture 18 (see FIG. 5).

Once the arm portion 96 is fully inserted through the aperture 18, thelatching member 132, under the biasing force of the spring 152,automatically moves from the first, retracted position, back to thesecond, extended position to secure the computer 10 in the dockingstation 14 (see FIG. 6). An audible “click” will be heard to confirm thelatching mechanism 132 has returned to the second, extended position.The lock mechanism 180 can then be locked to prevent the computer 10from being removed.

To remove the computer 10 from the docking station 14, the user canunlock the lock mechanism 180 if it had been locked. Next, the usermanually moves the activation member 172 in the direction illustrated inthe indicia arrow 176 so that the latching mechanism 132 moves to thesecond, retracted position, thereby allowing the user to pivot the topof the computer 10 away from the arm portion 96 to remove the armportion 96 from the aperture 18. The undocking and removal of thecomputer 10 can be done with a single hand, whereby the user grabs thehandle 24 as if picking the computer 10 up off a table. The user's thumbwill be generally aligned with the activation member 172 so that theactivation member 172 can be intuitively pressed by the user's thumb,and at the same time, the user can pivot the top of the computer 10 awayfrom the arm portion 96 to remove the computer 10 from the dockingstation 14. Alternatively, the user can press down directly on thelatching member 132 to move the latching member 132 to the second,retracted position.

Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer docking station for supporting aportable computer, the docking station comprising: a body having acradle portion adjacent a first end of the body and configured tosupport a first portion of the portable computer, and a recess formed inthe body adjacent a second opposite end of the body; a latching memberconfigured to move in the recess and coupled with the body to engage asecond portion of the portable computer, wherein the latching member ismovable in a direction parallel to a plane between a first position, inwhich the portable computer can be removed from the docking station, anda second position, in which the portable computer cannot be removed fromthe docking station when the portable computer is fully inserted intothe docking station, wherein when the portable computer is inserted intothe docking station the portable computer moves the latching member fromthe second position to the first position and the latching memberautomatically moves from the first position to the second position asthe portable computer moves past and clears the latching member as theportable computer is fully inserted into the docking station, andwherein the latching member is operable to cooperate with the cradleportion to removably hold the portable computer in the docking station;and an activation member that is accessible to a user and operativelyassociated with the latching member to manually move the latching memberfrom the second position to the first position, wherein when theactivation member moves the latching member from the second position tothe first position the activation member moves in a first directionparallel to the plane toward the cradle portion.
 2. The computer dockingstation of claim 1, wherein the activation member is operatively linkedto a pivot point on the body.
 3. The computer docking station of claim2, wherein the latching member is operatively linked to the pivot pointon the body.
 4. The computer docking station of claim 1, wherein theportable computer includes a docking connector and the docking stationfurther comprises a connector on the body operable to electricallycouple with the portable computer.
 5. The computer docking station ofclaim 4, wherein the connector is on the cradle portion.
 6. The computerdocking station of claim 1, further comprising a lock mechanism operableto selectively lock the latching member in the second position when theportable computer is fully inserted into the docking station.
 7. Thecomputer docking station of claim 6, wherein the lock mechanism includesa cam, and wherein when the lock mechanism is in a locked position, thecam engages the latching member and prevents the latching member frommoving to the first position, and when the lock mechanism is in anunlocked position, the cam does not engage the latching member andpermits the latching member to move to the first position.
 8. Thecomputer docking station of claim 1, the body further comprises an armportion spaced away from the cradle portion and positioned at the secondend of the body, wherein the recess is formed in the arm portion.
 9. Thecomputer docking station of claim 1, wherein the latching membercomprises a first portion to contact the portable computer as theportable computer is inserted into the docking station and moves pastthe latching member and a second portion that is configured to move inthe recess.
 10. The docking station of claim 9, wherein the secondportion of the latching member is linked to the activation member. 11.The docking station of claim 1, further comprising a biasing memberbiasing the latching member toward the second position.
 12. The dockingstation of claim 11, further comprising a biasing member biasing theactivation member away from the cradle.
 13. A computer docking stationfor supporting a portable computer having a first side that defines aplane and includes a display, the docking station comprising: a bodyhaving a cradle portion adjacent a first end of the body and configuredto support a first portion of the portable computer; a latching membercoupled with the body adjacent a second opposite end of the body,wherein the latching member is positioned relative to the cradle portionsuch that the latching member is operable to cooperate with the cradleportion to removably hold the portable computer in the docking station;an activation member that is accessible to a user to manually move thelatching member from a second position, in which the portable computercannot be removed from the docking station when the portable computer isfully inserted into the docking station, to a first position, in whichthe portable computer can be removed from the docking station; and alock mechanism operable to selectively lock the latching member in thesecond position when the portable computer is fully inserted into thedocking station, wherein the latching member is movable relative to thebody in a direction parallel to the plane between the first position andthe second position, wherein the portable computer moves the latchingmember from the second position to the first position as the portablecomputer is inserted into the docking station, and the latching memberautomatically moves from the first position to the second position asthe portable computer moves past and clears the latching member as theportable computer is fully inserted into the docking station, whereinthe latching member is positioned relative to the body so that when inthe second position, at least a portion of the latching member isexposed to view when the portable computer is fully inserted into thedocking station, and wherein the latching member and the activationmember are operatively linked to a common pivot point.
 14. The computerdocking station of claim 13, wherein the latching member is coupled tothe body for pivoting movement.
 15. The computer docking station ofclaim 13, wherein the body further comprises an arm portion spaced awayfrom the cradle portion and positioned at the second end of the body,wherein the latching member is coupled to the arm portion.
 16. Thecomputer docking station of claim 13, wherein the portable computerincludes a docking connector and the docking station further comprises aconnector on the body operable to electrically couple with the portablecomputer.
 17. The computer docking station of claim 13, wherein theconnector is on the cradle portion.
 18. The computer docking station ofclaim 13, wherein when the activation member moves the latching memberfrom the second position to the first position the activation membermoves in a direction parallel to the plane toward the cradle portion.19. The computer docking station of claim 13, wherein the lock mechanismincludes a cam, and wherein when the lock mechanism is in a lockedposition, the cam engages the latching member and prevents the latchingmember from moving to the first position, and when the lock mechanism isin an unlocked position, the cam does not engage the latching member andpermits the latching member to move to the first position.
 20. Acomputer docking station for supporting a portable computer having afirst side that defines a plane and includes a display, the dockingstation comprising: a body having a cradle portion adjacent a first endof the body and configured to support a first portion of the portablecomputer; a recess formed in the body adjacent a second opposite end ofthe body; a latching member coupled with the body adjacent the secondend of the body and configured to engage a second portion of thecomputer, the latching member comprising a first portion to contact theportable computer as the portable computer is inserted into the dockingstation and a second portion that is configured to move in the recess,wherein the latching member is movable in a direction parallel to theplane between a first position, in which the portable computer can beremoved from the docking station, and a second position, in which theportable computer cannot be removed from the docking station when theportable computer is fully inserted into the docking station, andwherein the latching member is operable to cooperate with the cradleportion to removably hold the portable computer in the docking station;and an activation member that is accessible to a user to manually movethe latching member from the second position to the first position; anda lock mechanism operable to selectively lock the latching member in thesecond position when the portable computer is fully inserted into thedocking station, wherein the portable computer moves the latching memberfrom the second position to the first position as the portable computeris inserted into the docking station and the latching memberautomatically moves from the first position to the second position asthe portable computer moves past and clears the latching member as theportable computer is fully inserted into the docking station, whereinwhen the activation member moves the latching member from the secondposition to the first position the activation member moves in adirection parallel to the plane toward the cradle portion, and whereinthe latching member is positioned relative to the body so that when inthe second position, at least a portion of the latching member isexposed to view when the portable computer is fully inserted into thedocking station.
 21. The computer docking station of claim 20, furthercomprising a biasing member biasing the activation member away from thecradle.
 22. The docking station of claim 20, further comprising abiasing member biasing the latching member toward the second position.23. The computer docking station of claim 20, wherein the lock mechanismincludes a cam, and wherein when the lock mechanism is in a lockedposition, the cam engages the latching member and prevents the latchingmember from moving to the first position, and when the lock mechanism isin an unlocked position, the cam does not engage the latching member andpermits the latching member to move to the first position.